Adele Garrick, manager, events and thought leadership, Mastercard, details why corporate events need to be investing in inclusivity.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a hot topic, not just in the events industry, but across all businesses and rightly so. Whether it’s a conference, exhibition or a gala dinner, it is critical that our attendees feel represented and reflected at an event.
As organisers, we must understand our role in helping to create this. I wholeheartedly believe that delivering an event that brings together different perspectives and backgrounds, will contribute to a more thoughtful event, through the selection of the likes of speakers, suppliers and content. It will also bring awareness for religious and/or cultural sensitivities as well as an increased understanding of how you can make your event accessible for those with disabilities.
When I was a planning a holiday for friends last year, one declined to join – because the location was somewhere that wasn’t LGBTQ+ friendly. This was something that hadn’t crossed my mind as we looked at options. It was the moment I realised that no matter how ‘aware’ you think you are, there will always be considerations you haven’t thought of.
Be the change
In our industry, we attend lots of in-person events and we see so many through social media and online; we’re in a very fortunate position that it’s easy to continually learn and understand what we can do better. I’ve always been impressed by Glastonbury’s approach to being more sustainable but when I was watching and reading about the festival this year, I was impressed its approach to being more accessible and inclusive – shown by its sign language interpreters, dedicated accessible campsites, viewing platforms and the Sistxrhood women-only venue.
It got me thinking, how can this be translated into making my world of corporate events more inclusive?
Whether that’s ensuring there’s a tapered edge rather than a step up onto an exhibition booth; making sure to create plenty of opportunities for attendees to inform us of anything that might make their experience easier; to supporting local, ethical suppliers that will contribute to the social and cultural development of the venue’s local area; the list really is endless and achievable.
These small changes make events more inclusive, but they also give attendees a better experience. Not only is creating representation in your events the right thing to do, but it will ultimately make them more impactful and memorable experiences.
